Mattress holding device



Feb. 15, 1955 M. c. YOUNG MATTRESS HOLDING DEVICE Filed May 14, 1952 m T m w. G N U 0 Y C Y R A M ATTORNEY United States Patent MATTRESS HOLDING DEVICE Mary C. Young, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application May 14, 1952, Serial No. 287,709

1 Claim. (Cl. -322) This invention relates to a mattress gripping or holding device particularly adapted for holding a mattress firmly on a bed.

Particularly in hospitals, the problem of holding a mattress firmly on a bed has been an important one, and any device previously used to overcome the problem has involved a clamp or hook attaching the mattress to the bed at the edge of the mattress, thus preventing the folding over and tucking in of bed sheets.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome such disadvantage, together with numerous other objects which will be apparent to persons familiar with this art.

In its preferred form the present invention consists of the combination of a hook of a particular shape, as referred to below and an attaching means for the mattress, which is preferably in the form of a loop of cord, such as nylon, passing through the mattress and presenting a loop on either side thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with the assistance of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view similar to Figure 1, but with part of the preferred embodiment removed, to show the manner of attachment to the mattress;

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the hook device referred to herein; and

Figure 5 shows a side elevation view of the device illustrated in Figure 4.

It will be realized that various changes could be made in the embodiment shown and described, and other apparently different embodiments of the invention could be constructed without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly it is intended that all matters shown in the accompanying drawings or described herein shall be in terpreted as illustrated and not in a limiting sense.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals denote like parts in all figures, a mattress is shown at 6 adapted to be used in conjunction with a bed shown in fragmentary form at 7.

An attaching means is shown at 5, passing through the mattress 6 through openings in the mattress spaced apart a sufficient distance that there will be no tendency for the mattress to tear. Attaching means 5 is preferably in the form of a nylon cord passing through the loop, back through the mattress again, and thence across the mattress again in an endless form. Grommets 4 are mattress across the side of the mattress in the form of a preferably provided at the points where the attaching means 5 passes through the mattress.

2,701,884 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 ICC It is contemplated that a mattress provided with attaching means of the type described, would have such attaching means near both ends of the mattress. It has been found preferable in practice to have attaching means 5 ap roximately nine inches from either end of mattress A hook shown at 2 is provided, which makes suitable engagement with attaching means 5 and with bed 6. Referring particularly to Figures 4 and 5, it will be observed that hook 2 has a large loop 3 and a small loop 1, and that hook 2 is in the form of a flat piece of metal, bent as shown. In order that hook 2 may lie flat under the mattress, it is preferably of a strip of metal, such as stainless steel, for example an inch and a half wide, and for example thirteen inches long.

Loop 1 of hook 2 is adapted to engage attaching means 5, and loop 3 of hook 2 is adapted to engage bed 7.

It will be seen that the combination of the features disclosed prevents the mattress of a bed from sliding downwards toward the foot of the bed, for example when the top end of the spring is raised for the comfort of the patient, as is frequently done in hospitals and elsewhere.

With the means shown and described, the mattress may be raised from the spring of the bed without causing the gripping of the mattress to be impaired. Thus an at tendant, nurse or orderly who is making up the bed can, after having attached the device shown to the mattress and to the bed, proceed to fold or tuck a bed sheet under the edge of the mattress by raising the mattress.

If attaching means 5 is provided at both ends of the mattress, there will be four positions in which the mattress can be placed, and will still be capable of utilization according to the present invention: the mattress may be placed end for end on one side, or may be turned over and placed end for end on the other side.

It will be seen that the device disclosed herein is considerably advantageous over previous devices used for holding a mattress on a bed, and to prevent slipping, and that such device is inexpensive to construct, neat and reliable in operation. While the hook means disclosed herein has been stated to be of a flat strip of resilient material, it will be appreciated that a rod or a plurality of rods bent in the form shown and described could be used as an alternative without departing from the spirit of the invention. This and various other changes will occur to one skilled in the art.

I claim:

A device for detachably holding a mattress in position on a bed comprising in combination with a bed and mattress, a closed loop means running through said mattress and having an exposed portion at a position spaced a substantial distance from the edge of the mattress, and an elongated grip means having an oppositely directed hook portion at each end, each of said hook portions being relatively short compared to the entire length of said grip means, one of said hook portions being engaged with said loop, and the other of said hook portions being engaged with the edge of said bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,600 Coil July 12, 1921 1,559,119 Miller Oct. 27, 1925 2,634,426 Anderson Apr. 14, 1953 

